Missional Reflections on the Call of Moses
Last week, we examined the initial scene (Exod 3:1-12) of the call of Moses by God to serve within God’s mission.
The call story of Moses is remarkable for the dialogue that occurs between Moses and God. Moses’ encounter with God is memorable for the dramatic appearance of God in a burning bush, but this is only part of the story. The call of Moses is not a simple commissioning in which God says, “Go!†and Moses immediately responds with an unqualified, “Yes, Lord.â€
Instead, what ensues is a real conversation in which Moses raises five objections and concerns to God about God’s plan. Last week, we examined the first of Moses’ objections: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?†(3:11). In response, God offered Moses his full presence (3:12). Second, Moses asked, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” (3:13). God then reveals God’s name and again affirms his intention to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians. Third, Moses objects by saying, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’†God again responds by meeting Moses concern. This time God empowers Moses with a series of three signs that would be deployed to alleviate any doubt about God’s sending of Moses.
Our Scripture lesson today will deal with the fourth and fifth objections:
10 Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”
14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.
Before moving into our text, let us make a few observations about the encounter between Moses and God so far. The God who called Moses is profoundly relational. He has come to deliver Israel into a relationship with Himself (Exod 19:3-6). Furthermore, part of God’s relational character is his self-giving nature: God reveals elements of his character and nature in response to Moses’ inquiries. In other words, if Moses had not raised objections and simply went to Egypt, we would not have as much information and insight into the character of God. Moreover, this text offers reflection on the nature of call from God. Moses is needed for the service of God. There will be profound loss in God’s plan without Moses, but God’s call here is not primarily coercive. God engages Moses with His commission and works to empower Moses to be able to fulfill God’s mission.
Exodus 4:10-16
Moses’ fourth objection to God’s call is a plea rooted in Moses’ own sense of inadequacy as a speaker. This self-effacing comment is ironic in light of Moses’ demonstrated ability to dialogue with God. Moses claims literally to suffer from a “heavy mouth and a heavy tongue.†This suggests that Moses was worried that he would falter and stammer before Pharaoh.
God accepts Moses’ self-assessment as a legitimate issue, and He moves to work around the problem. In v. 11, God affirms that it is He who created in humanity the possibility of speech and sensory perception. God accomplishes this through a series of rhetorical expressions designed to drive Moses to the conclusion that God is able and willing to make a way forward through his objection. Verse 12 reiterates God’s call on Moses. God is in control of the situation. Moses is to proceed with the mission. Our Scripture translation captures well God’s response: I will be with your mouth. So Moses claims that he is unable to serve in God’s mission because he has a speech impediment. No problem. God will be present with Moses’ mouth. This is the second time that God’s presence has been offered in response to an objection by Moses (see 3:12). God continues to affirm consistently that the success of the mission to deliver Israel resides in the presence and power of God. It is not about Moses—neither his strengths nor weaknesses will be the determining factors. Rather it will be his faithful obedience to God’s call. The promise of presence assumes the willingness of Moses to act. God already promised his presence in v. 12. To illustrate the extent of God’s promised presence God now affirms that His presence will extend even to Moses’ mouth. God also promises to teach Moses what to say.
Thus, God offers His presence to Moses and also responds positively and helpfully to each of Moses’ specific objections to God’s plan. All that remains is for Moses to affirm his intention to participate fully in God’s mission to deliver Israel from Egypt.
But Moses does not take the expected step. Instead, Moses pleads with God, please send someone else. Send echoes back to God’s original call on his life (3:10). But it is the opposite response required of Moses.
God’s response is different. Our text says that God becomes angry. God has not expressed any negative assessment of Moses thus far in the conversation. It occurs only here. Why? Since Moses has already raised four previous objections to God’s call, it cannot be mere agitation at Moses’ desire for dialogue and clarification. As we have observed, God was working with Moses to equip him for God’s mission.
The issue here is Moses unwillingness to participate in God’s plan to deliver Israel despite the empowering presence of God that will
accompany him. God has met every legitimate concern raised by Moses. It is time for Moses to move to action.
Remarkably God has already devised another means of working through Moses—Moses’ brother Aaron. Aaron’s gifts will serve as a complement to Moses’. Aaron has the ability to speak well. Even better, Aaron is on the way out to meet Moses. Aaron will be favorably disposed to Moses and glad to see him.
But Moses is central to God’s plan. God. It is Moses not Aaron whom God met and commissioned through the burning bush at Horeb (Sinai). Verses 15-16 describe the role that Moses will play with Aaron joining the mission as the audible voice.
Moses and Aaron will serve as representatives of God. They will be object lessons to both Israel and Pharaoh. Just as God speaks to Moses, Moses will speak to Aaron. Then Aaron by speaking the words given to him by Moses will actually be proclaiming the God’s words. Their role will be to serve as visible representatives of God and God’s prophet.
God then affirms for the third time in Exod 3-4 (3:12, 4:12, 15) His abiding and empowering presence. Now God will be with both Moses and Aaron. Aaron will serve as the mouthpiece of Moses and ultimately for God.